Pa. sheriff nicknamed 'Duke' to stay on ballot

Published: Thursday, April 4, 2013 at 7:23 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, April 4, 2013 at 7:23 a.m.

DOYLESTOWN, Pa. (AP) — A judge says the Republican incumbent can remain on the May 21 primary ballot for sheriff of an eastern Pennsylvania county along with his nickname, Duke.

Tom Lingenfelter, a political activist and Republican challenger in the May 21 primary in Bucks County, wanted incumbent Sheriff Edward "Duke" Donnelly kicked off the ballot for using his nickname.

The Bucks County Courier Times (http://bit.ly/16ugBye ) reports Wednesday that Bucks County Judge Gary Gilman found that the nickname isn't confusing to voters, nor does it suggest Donnelly is claiming some "hereditary distinction or nobility title" as Lingenfelter alleged.

Simply put, the judge says, "If strikes me that if George Herman Ruth was running for office, then there would be no objection to him appearing on the ballot as Babe Ruth."

<p>DOYLESTOWN, Pa. (AP) — A judge says the Republican incumbent can remain on the May 21 primary ballot for sheriff of an eastern Pennsylvania county along with his nickname, Duke.</p><p>Tom Lingenfelter, a political activist and Republican challenger in the May 21 primary in Bucks County, wanted incumbent Sheriff Edward "Duke" Donnelly kicked off the ballot for using his nickname.</p><p>The Bucks County Courier Times (http://bit.ly/16ugBye ) reports Wednesday that Bucks County Judge Gary Gilman found that the nickname isn't confusing to voters, nor does it suggest Donnelly is claiming some "hereditary distinction or nobility title" as Lingenfelter alleged.</p><p>Simply put, the judge says, "If strikes me that if George Herman Ruth was running for office, then there would be no objection to him appearing on the ballot as Babe Ruth."</p><p>Lingenfelter says he'll appeal.</p><p>___</p>